January 2, 1999 Wade started their 132nd year
of providing specification drains to the plumbing industry.

When Chicago was young, James J. Wade finished his apprenticeship and became an
accredited master plumber. Many of Chicago's early skyscrapers were Wade jobs,
and a few still stand today. Some of his jobs were destroyed in the great
Chicago fire of 1871, but he helped both as a maker and installer of drainage
materials in the subsequent years of re-building.

J.J. Wade, Founder of Wade Drains At the First National Convention Of Master Plumbers, Meeting in New York City, 1883

J.J. Wade & Sons became one of the largest contracting firms in the Chicago
area, and Wade himself helped write the city's first plumbing code. With
projects in both residential and commercial areas, Wade was an industry leader
at a relatively early age. In 1884, he served as an officer of the NAMP
(National Association of Master Plumbers.) One of the organizers of the Chicago
Plumbing Contractors Association, Wade served as its president in the
1890's.

Plumbing products of a century ago left much room for improvement. J.J. Wade
was not satisfied with available materials, and soon turned his talents to
product design. One specialized item followed another, patent after patent was
issued, and soon other plumbing contractors offered to buy Wade's products.
Gradually, Wade became more and more a product manufacturer than a
contractor.

By 1890, J.J.'s son, Thomas P. Wade was manager of the production division,
Wade Iron Sanitary Manufacturing Company. Within a few years, the contracting
business had been absorbed by the burgeoning production operation. The company
employed factory salesmen to implement sales of Wade Drains and plumbing
products.

Wade entered the 20th century as a forerunner of specification products and
special castings.

In the thirties, Wade Manufacturing Company was born as the company struggled
out from under the depression. Still based in the Chicago area at the outbreak
of World War II, the company produced government specialties during the war
years.

In 1963, Wade, Inc., was purchased by Tyler Pipe and re-located in Tyler,
Texas. Assimilation of the Wade organization as a part of the Tyler Pipe
Industries was the best possible assurance that the standards of J.J. Wade
would be maintained, and that still holds true today.

First for Wade:

* First to offer carrier fittings with all NH outlets

* First to introduce a closet carrier that can carry its own weight by casting
a lug into the carrier body so it can support an adjustable
rear anchor foot

* First to introduce an entirely new concept in carrier faceplates, one that
revolutionized the installation of wall hung closets- install
it one way to fit siphon jet closets and invert it to fit blow
out

* First to offer the universal hanger plate for fixture carriers- the Wade
plate will accommodate better than 90% of all urinals
and water coolers

* First to introduce the first push on cleanout, later thus was adapted to the
drains as well